I love my Bernina and as someone said before they are alot. But, they are all metal housing and gears. My last machine had plastic gears. Paid $99 and had it for 25 years so I got my moneys worth. But when it broke that was it. Repairman couldn't find parts.
If I had to go out and but another machine today...I would look on ebay at the Pfaff preferrably the Quilt Expression or the Husqvarna Viking Sapphire. Both have very large beds for putting those large quilts through for FMQ.